“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
Matthew 24:4-8
The Apostle Peter, in his first letter to those Believers sojourning among the nations, tells us to look forward, despite of trials, to the revelation of Jesus Christ. He writes of the revelation of Jesus several times in the first section of his letter.
Jesus tells us that many substitute saviors will come before Jesus is bodily revealed to us. Luke shows us Jesus ascending into Heaven and the disciples “gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ ” (Acts 1:10,11)
There used to be a game show on TV, “What’s My Line,” in which contestants question three people on a panel. One was the real person, the other two imposters. At the end of the show, the show’s host would say, “Will the real so and so please stand up!”
Are we going to know Jesus when He comes?
A favorite event of mine is he two disciples walking down an old Roman road to toward their town. A man comes up by them and they talk as they walk. Only when the man is invited to eat with the disciples, only when the man breaks bread, do the disciples realize they were talking to the resurrected Jesus. (Luke 24:13-25)
Apostle Paul helps us in our life as we face trials and potential deceptions. In his letter to the Ephesian Believers, he shows us that we need armor in this battle. Spiritual Armor. GOD’s Armor. (Eph 6) This armor he describes isn’t optional. No soldier would fail to put on his armor. Make no mistake: we are soldier in a spiritual battle. The victory is assured. But the battles have, are, and will continue to rage. Put on the armor.
As Jesus continued his discourse on the Mount of Olives, he said that the deceptions are “to lead [people] astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
In his letter to the Thessalonian Believers, Apostle Paul is also encouraging, for the “coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Thank You, Jesus!
LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
Jonah’s Song 